Modern kitchen with white cabinets, stainless steel refrigerator, and a central island with a white marble top. There are wooden floors, a window with blinds, and a hanging light fixture over the island. A dining table with a plant centerpiece is in the foreground.

Residential

Tailored Calm

Location
Naperville

Client
Private

Status
Complete

“Nothing can bring you peace but yourself”. Clearly, Ralph Waldo Emerson wasn’t considering the impact a minimal, neutral color palette and stripped down, functional space can do to induce calm.

My homeowners on this project didn’t want to change the footprint of their existing kitchen and had some unique characteristics to consider in the overall design, including a stain glass window that was not only functional at providing privacy but was also something they loved and wanted to keep.

The goal of this project was to bring calm and brightness to the dual functioning kitchen and living space. We did this by simply updating their recessed cans to the latest models, changing the hue of the recessed lighting color, adding more ambient lighting with multiple sconces, and layering in soft pillows, blankets and textures.

They also lacked dimension in the space, with one very long flat wall that housed their outdated fireplace. By building the fireplace box out 12” we were able to make the living space more of it’s own defined area, separate from the kitchen.

As for the kitchen, it was all about strategically mixing metals, cabinet colors, and countertops. But doing so in a way that still felt modern, clean and cohesive.

Cabinetry: Tri-Star Cabinet & Top Co. and Heritage Cabinetry

Construction: A Cut Above Carpentry

Photos: Summer Brader

ORIGINAL LIVING ROOM

Flat wall with outdated fireplace
stain glass window and outdated colors
heavy bookcases flanking wide porch doors
Arhaus sofa, Four Hands coffee table
A cozy corner with a light gray circular chair, decorative pillows, a blanket, near large windows with blinds, a wall-mounted clock, a modern fireplace, and a flat-screen TV on the wall.
Living room with a wall-mounted TV above a fireplace, a gray sofa with pillows to the left, a clock on the wall, a woven rug on hardwood floors, a tray with decor on a table, and a potted plant in a white vase to the right.

ORIGINAL KITCHEN

A kitchen with dark wood cabinets, a granite island, and a window with a floral blind. Countertops hold appliances like an oven, microwave, toaster, and coffee maker. A phone and tablet are on the island.
A stained glass window featuring a large vase with white flowers and green leaves, with geometric patterns in the background.
A dining area in a bright kitchen with a round wooden table set with white plates and bowls, four upholstered chairs, a potted plant in the center, and a large decorative window with a stained glass pattern of a potted plant.
Modern kitchen with white cabinets, black range hood, stainless steel appliances, marble island, and pendant lighting.
Modern kitchen with white cabinets, stainless steel appliances, granite countertop, wooden floor, and window with blinds.
Modern kitchen with white cabinets, a black island with gold handles, a white marble countertop, and two hanging pendant lights with white shades and gold accents. There's a window with a brown blind, a bowl of avocados on the island, and fruits on a tiered stand on the countertop.
A cozy dining nook with a round white table, four wooden chairs with light-colored cushions, a window seat with cushions and pillows, a black pendant light, a flower arrangement on the table, and a window letting in natural light with a view of greenery outside.

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